Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

As buyers, investors and governments demand more transparency, craft and textile MSMEs need to show and not just say that their work is holistically sustainable.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific and globally recognised way to measure your product’s environmental health - from raw material to final disposal.

We offer LCA services specially designed for small and mid-sized enterprises, helping you:

Supplement Sustainability Claims with Data
Don’t just say ‘eco-friendly.’ Show exactly how much water, energy or carbon your product uses and how it is better than industrial alternatives.

Win Buyer Trust
Share verified impact numbers with retailers, buyers, investors and conscious consumers.

Prepare for New Rules
Stay ahead for upcoming regulations like the EU Digital Product Passport, which will require brands to share detailed environmental data.

Stand Out in a Crowded Market
Use your low-impact processes, like handloom, embroideries, natural dyeing or natural fibres, as a market advantage, backed by numbers.

How It Works

We work with you to calculate and understand the environmental impact of your textile or craft product: step by step as per globally recognised ISO 14040/14044 standards.

We Track:

  • Carbon emissions (CO₂)

  • Water used

  • Energy consumed

  • Chemicals or dyes used

  • Waste generated and managed

  • Even noise pollution/burden (in some cases)

All through the life of your product i.e. from agriculture, fibre to fabric to final stitching and shipping.

All packaged in a crisp tailored report.

Examples:

A handwoven desi cotton dupatta emits just 5.08 kg CO₂e per kg, compared to 9.96 kg CO₂e from a machine-made Bt cotton alternative.*

Producing one organic cotton shirt requires roughly the amount of water needed to fill 3 bathtubs (≈420 litres), whereas a conventional cotton shirt consumes nearly 20 bathtubs (≈1,970 litres), a difference of over 4.5 times in water intensity.*

*all data points are result of Third Soil’s LCA studies done at Harvard Extension School using ISO 14040/14044 standards.

Learn about Impact Measurement Tools